Pak's National Assembly today to elect new PM

Pakistan's National Assembly has been convened on Friday to elect a new Prime Minister with the name of outgoing Textile Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin emerging as the main contender for the post.Assembly Secretariat has issued schedule for the election of new prime minister, Geo News reported.As per the schedule, nomination papers could be submitted till 2:00pm Thursday to Secretary Assembly while Speaker National Assembly would scrutinize the papers at 3:00pm.
Nomination papers can be withdrawn at anytime before the election.

President Asif Ali Zardari has finalized the name of Makhdoom Shahabuddin for the next Prime Minister, sources said. Raja Pervez Ashraf will file nomination papers in the Election Commission before 2 pm on Thursday as a covering candidate for the PM slot, sources said.Presently a member of the National Assembly (February 2008 onwards) and textiles minister, Shahabuddin has earlier held the portfolios of federal minister for finance and health in the Gilani-led government.Coming from Punjab province's Rahim Yar Khan city, Shahabuddin has been politically affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also co-Chairman of ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Wednesday held several rounds of talks with senior members of his party and allies like PML-Q to build a consensus on a name that will be acceptable to the fractious coalition.

PPP Parliamentary Party also met to discuss possible names for the post of Prime Minister which fell vacant following Supreme Court's order disqualifying Yousuf Raza Gilani for contempt.

The party insiders said that senior leader Shahabuddin has emerged as a front runner in the race.

PPP leader Khursheed Shah, who was Religious Affairs Minister in Gilani's cabinet, told reporters that a session of the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament will be convened at 5. 30 pm on Friday to elect the new premier.

Nomination papers for the election will be filed on Thursday, Shah said. President Zardari will choose the party's candidate for the post of premier, he said.

Besides Shahabuddin, others who are being considered for the post include former Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Samina Ghurki, a PPP leader from Lahore whose late husband was a close aide of Zardari.

"The next prime minister will be elected by the national assembly. He will be a member of parliament. He will be a nice person and loyal to the party," Gilani's lawyer and PPP member Aitzaz Ahsan told reporters.